Five People from Kyle Arrested for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that five Kyle, South Dakota, men and women have been arrested by a complaint for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.  

Robert O’Rourke, age 39; Lynette O’Rourke, age 37; Sunny O’Rourke, age 43; Guadalupe “Lupe” Garcia, age 38; and Shaina Phelps, age 42, were charged by complaint on June 16, 2020.  They all appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on June 24, 2020, and pleaded not guilty to the charge.  The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life imprisonment and/or a $10,000,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to the O’Rourkes, Garcia, and Phelps conspiring together to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in South Dakota.   The charge is merely an accusation and the five defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama is prosecuting the case.

Garcia was released on bond, while the O’Rourkes and Phelps were detained pending trial.  A trial date has been set for September 1, 2020.